rutherford b.hayes

Rutherford B. Hayes was the 19th  President of the United States
and is sometimes referred to as the 'Dark-Horse President.'

In her Book of the PRESIDENTS - Nancy J. Hajeski writes that
Hayes' single term as President started off wrong.  A moderate
Republican - he could have been the right candidate to succeed
Ulysses S. Grant - whose Presidency was marred by scandal.
Hayes opponent - Democrat Samuel J. Tilden - won the popular
vote - but the electoral votes were contested in four states.
Amid accusations of fraud - Hayes finally did become President -
but not until he unwisely made a 'deal ' - promising to remove
Fedreal Troops from the South.  Hajeski says that this choice
to cut a deal caused him to be given the nickname of
'Rutherfraud' B. Hayes.

Hayes tried to make his mark on History - and the Financial
Panic of 1873 was a problem he had to deal with.  He also
made an effort to move forward Civil Rights issues for Blacks.

Hayes brought an end to Reconstruction - but a dark blot
was forever left on his less than spectacular Presidency by
his attempt to deal with rioting during the Great Railroad
Strike of 1877 - when Federal Troops fired on American
citizens and there was a tragic loss of 70 lives.

Rutherford B. Hayes was born in Delaware, Ohio in
1922 - and after suffering a heart attack he died on
January 17th, 1893.